Contextual Fit

Project 2: Addition to an Existing Order

An addition to an existing order, "requires first that the ordering system of the prior or prototypical model be perceived and understood so that, through a series of finite changes and permutations, the original design concept can be clarified, strengthened, and built upon, rather than destroyed."

Francis D.K. Ching, Architecture: Form, Space & Order

PROGRAM:
The Smith Family has commissioned you to design an addition to their house on the shore of Long Island Sound. The original house, designed in 1965 by architect Richard Meier, has been widely published and is internationally known. Unfortunately, the Owners needs have change since the original design, thereby warranting this architectural intervention. The Owner specifically request that the integrity of the original design be respected, yet the new addition should have its own presence.

This is a project that focuses on the fit of three dimensional massing and ordering systems as the design generator in the context of existing forms and three dimensional systems. Extruded existing systems is a design starting point.

Narrative for the Smith House

The Smith House in Darien, CT is a famous work of architecture by Richard Meier. This house is located in an upscale neighborhood with one side facing the water. The house is designed in such a way that the living quarters and common areas are clearly separated. There is a very strong cubic element to the design, and the house has spectacular views, especially facing the water—although it also has side views. These side views are available because of the open floor plan and design. Floors have setbacks so that you can see down from one floor to another. This gives a feeling of floating, and open space. There is a clear geometrical pattern, but it is asymmetrical so it is very interesting.

The separation between private and public space is delineated and the private quarters face the woods/road, with fewer windows and opaque facade. The public areas are spacious and multilevel inside, enclosed on three sides with glass held by mullions which gives the space a feeling of freedom that the private quarters does not have. The glazing beckons the occupant outward towards the sky and sea.

My idea for a design addition for this building : I imagine a multigenerational family is moving in. They have a grown child with a spouse and want to add another master suite and family room, gym and entertainment area for them where they will have some privacy from the main house but also are not isolated.

I wanted to add to the design, bring something new to it but not ruin the lines of the house and I wanted to make sure to honor Meier’s original vision. I decided to build up the west side of the existing staircase, and add on floors adjacent to the landings (addition). This would allow the original lines of the house to stay basically intact. Meier consciously kept the footprint of the house small so they didn’t have to blast into too much bedrock, which is costly. He also purposely kept the structure more vertical than horizontal and my idea echoes this design. The family room and bedroom would be on the entry level and upper level, respectively; the more common/public gym area would be on the ground level facing out towards the water. The family room/bedrooms will be cantilevered (subtraction) over the smaller gym area in keeping with the interior design of overhangs/balconies on different levels. My hope for this addition will be that it will look like a natural extension of the simple geometry of the main house.

However, the outside area for entertaining will break the tradition of simple geometric cubes (and echo the rounded staircase on the east side) and will be a slightly (depending on grade) lower and round area, with circular stairs leading down around the edge, placed on an angle (geometric rotation) interlocking with the gym area and under the cantilevered corner of the family room (which will be glass enclosed) and include a fire pit and seating for guests (other elements TBD). This will link the spaces together and encourage the circulatory flow from the gym to the outside entertainment area and out to the water. This also allows for a small footprint, little excavation and hopefully the ability to save the large tree on that side.